Rap and Poetry: A Tool For Self-Expression | Craft D | TEDxUWE

TL;DR

Rap and poetry have deep historical roots and share similarities in rhythm, structure, innovation, and rhyming. Incorporating rap into the curriculum can enhance learning, communication, and self-expression.

Transcript

hi there my name is Danny AKA crafty I'm a poet and a rapper and an educator and I believe that poetry and rap are a phenomenal tool for self-expression and that rap should be studied in schools now there's been some great talks today about the themes of connection and belonging and to me poetry and rap are part of a connected community of language... Read More

Key Insights

• 💩 Poetry and rap have a shared history and utilization of language, with ancient African traditions and the Harlem Renaissance contributing to their development.
• 😑 Both forms of expression employ rhythm, with poetry using meter and rap utilizing flow, cadence, and rhythm in a pleasing manner.
• 🉐 Traditional poetry and rap share structural elements like verses, lines, and stanzas, and rap introduced the concept of bars to expand on metaphors, punchlines, and wordplay.
• 💩 Rap reinvented rhyme by utilizing multi-syllabic rhyming, providing more flexibility and creating unique sonic possibilities.
• 😑 Incorporating rap into the curriculum can benefit different types of learners, enhance communication skills, and promote self-expression.
• 😑 Rap and poetry serve as powerful platforms for expressing the inexpressible and telling personal stories that may otherwise go untold.
• 💩 The snubbing of rap in academia may be influenced by issues of race and class, highlighting the importance of inclusivity and representation.

Questions & Answers

Q: What historical roots do poetry and rap share?

Ancient African griots acted as historians, storytellers, musicians, and poets, forming the foundation of the connection between rap and poetry. The Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s and 1930s further contributed to the development of rap with rhythmically rhyming over jazz and blues.

Q: How do rap and poetry utilize rhythm?

Traditional poetry employs meter, which is based on the number of syllables in a line and how they are stressed. Rap also heavily relies on rhythm, cadence, and flow to deliver words in an enjoyable and pleasing way. Rhythms of poetry, like iambic pentameter, can coexist with rap music.

Q: What similarities exist in the structure of poetry and rap?

Both poetry and rap have verses/stanzas and lines/bars that create a structured format for the content. Rap songs typically have 16 bars in a verse, and bars can encompass metaphors, punchlines, and wordplay.

Q: How does rap reinvent rhyme?

By the 20th century, traditional poetry was deemed repetitive and limited in terms of rhyme. However, rap completely reinvented rhyme by utilizing multi-syllabic rhyming, which involves rhyming all the stressed syllables in corresponding phrases. This innovation opened up infinite possibilities in rap's use of rhyme.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Poetry and rap have a connected community of language with ancient African roots and a modern history that traces back to the Harlem Renaissance.

• Both traditional poetry and rap employ rhythm and structure in their form, using techniques like meter, verses, and bars.

• Rap and poetry share similarities in innovation and reinvention of language, as well as the ability to express the inexpressible and promote self-expression.